Closing and checking unit



y 1939- I F. c. GARRISON 2,158,417

CLOSING AND CHECKING UNIT I Filed April 13, 1938 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 y1939- F. c. GARRISON 2,158,417

CLOSING AND CHECKING UNIT Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENToFFis Oscar C. Rixson 80., tion of Illinois Chicago, 111., a corpora-Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,672

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a. mechanical unit designed for closing andchecking the opening and closing movements of hinged elements such asdoors.

5 The principal purpose of the invention is to provide a simpleconstruction of that class without needless complications, yet havingthe required action for either right or left opening doors or swingingdoors opening in both directions to check the motion at the ends ofopening and closing movement and to assure the return of the door to itsfully closed position. A further purpose of the invention is to providefor taking up play so that the door is always under checking resistanceagainst either direction of motion, even when in its fully closedposition, yet will be exactly centered in that position by the doorclosing mechanism.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by means of theconstruction illustrated in the drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a side view of the door closing and checking unit showingthe unit applied as a lower hinge to a door. The door and its supporting25 frame structure are shown broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in side elevation of the door check andcloser partly broken away and partly in section with the mechanism inthat relation when the door is in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but shows the mechanism as it wouldappear when the door is extending at right angles to its closedposition.

Fig. 4 is a cam detail showing the relation of a pair of cams when thedoor is in closed position.

Fig. 5 shows the same cam detail as Fig. 4, but in changed relation asthe cams would appear when the door has been closed from the oppositedirection to that in which it is closed according to the showing in Fig.4.

Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, are horizontal sections as indicated by thesection lines on Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail taken on the line H-ll of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 shows a vertical longitudinal section of a modification, adaptedfor use with a compression closing spring instead of a torsion spring asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 13 shows the same mechanism as shown by Fig. 12, but in changedrelation with the spring partly compressed as this mechanism wouldappear when the door is swung 90 away fromits closed position.

Figs. 14 and 15 are transverse sections as indicated by the lines l4 andI5 on Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a spring carrier shown in Figs. 2 and3.

In the art to which this invention relates, many door closers and checksare unduly limited as to adaptability for varying requirements. There issometimes a difference in the construction for doors that have a rightor left opening movement, or for doors that are both right and leftmoving, and also for doors that are intended for swinging in arcs ofVarying degree. The 1111- proved construction now disclosed meets a widerange of conditions without change therein, and is generally moreuniversally applicable than most door checks or snubbing devices knownto applicant.

The principal characteristic of this construction is a particularcoacting relationship between a pair of cams and a coacting door andspring actuated spindle and with a checking plunger. The camrelationship changes slightly, depending upon the direction of motion ofthe door in a manner to provide a definite checking resistance toclosing movement of the door from its open position in .eitherdirection, and to free the mechanism of any back lash at all times, andto compensate for wear.

Two forms of the construction are illustrated, the one shown by sheets Iand 2 employs a torsion door closing spring. This spring l is bent atits upper end 2 to engage a slot 3 in a spring carrier t and is bent atits lower end to engage a slot 5 in a spring carrier 6. These springcarriers loosely fit a door-operated spindle l. The spindle F has asquared head 8 at which point it is clamped to the door, as illustratedin Fig. 11, and centrally between the spring carriers the spindle has atransverse pin 9 fast therein and with a projecting head it in positionto engage a shoulder H on spring carrier i and a shoulder i2 on springcarrier 6, as shown in Fig. 8. This figure shows the normal relationshipaccording to the closed position of the door. Thus, if the door is movedin one direction it will tension the spring through the upper carrierand if moved in the opposite direction will tension the spring throughthe lower carrier.

The carriers are free to rotate from their home position one in onedirection and the other in the other, but each is stopped from movingaway from that position in an opposite direction by an abutment in theform of a pin it, Fig. 6, for carrier 4, and pin I4, Fig. 7, for carrier6. These pins engage shoulders 15 and it on their respective carriers. Acentering collar or bearing element [1 engages a groove H3 at the lowerend of spring carrier 6. This collar fits the inner wall of the cylinder19 formed by the casing 20. The bearing element I1 is perforated toallow for the passage of oil. Longitudinal motion of spindle I isprevented by its shoulder 21 and the bearing 22 at the upper end ofcasing 20.

The checking piston operating cam 23 is secured to the lower end of thespindle 1 by a pin 24 passing through the hub of the cam. The cam isformed with an opening 25 for receiv ing the spindle 1. This opening issomewhat tapered at each end so that the cam. may have a limitedoscillatory motion around pin 24. This provision is made so that the cammay have a perfect adjustment for transmitting thrust to a cooperatingcam surface on a checking plunger. Cam 23 operates a checking plunger 26to depress that plunger against a restoring spring 27 when the doorswings from a setting to either its fully opened or fully closedpositions. Such downward motion of the plunger is resisted by oilflowing from the lower end of cylinder i9 passing a flow restrictingvalve 28, Fig. 10, to the part of the cylinder above plunger 26. Uponupward motion of the plunger the lower end of the cylinder is refilledby oil passing by check valve 29.

The checking plunger has a limited rotational motion around its axis forcooperating with the oscillating cam 23 in the purpose of allowing thedoor to become exactly centered in its closed position and yet afiordinga measured resistance to motion of the door at that point. Thisrotational movement of the plunger 26 is provided so that the points ofthe cams will not be in exact alignment when the door is closed. Withoutthat improvement the points of the cams would be subject to greater wearand possibly wear round at their tips. In that case there then would beless downward movement of the plunger 26 and consequently insufficientchecking resistance near the closed position of the door.

This limited rotation of the checking plunger is provided for byslotting one side of the plunger, as indicated at 30, Figs. 4 and 5, forthe reception of a spline 3|. In the assembly this spline is pushed intoplace by a threaded plug 32 in casing 20. The lower end of cylinder I9is also closed by a plug 33 forming a seat for plunger-operating spring21. The oil filling of the cylinder is done through either of theopenings closed by plugs 32 or 33.

The checking plunger is: in its lowermost position as in Fig. 2, onlywhen the door is closed or approximately open. The plunger is in itsuppermost position as in Fig. 3 when the door is open 90.

The modification illustrated on Sheet 3 is designed to meet the samerequirements and perform the same functions as the constructionabove-described, but the door closing spring 34 in this case is acompression spring and the cam 35 does not rotate, but reciprocates andfor that purpose has a spline 36 fitting a groove 31 in a plug 38inserted in an opening in casing 39. This opening is closed by a screw68. The spindle ii which turns with the door, carries at its lower end atapered roller 42 and the spindle being prevented from movinglongitudinally by its bearing 43, and a thrust collar 44 engagingpacking 45, the roller moves in a horizontal path. Upon the openingmotion of the door, roller 42 shifts cam 35 upwardly causing thecompression of spring 36. When the door is released the spring returnscam 35 to its lower position, and the cam by acting upon the spindleroller 42 causes the spindle to return to its initial position, as shownin Fig. 12, and closes the door.

The checking plunger 46 also reciprocates under the action of its spring41 and by the action of roller 62 on the upper cam surface 48 of thechecking plunger. The checking plunger 46 may oscillate slightly asprovided for by a stop member 29, depending from cam 35 into an opening56 of larger diameter in the checking plunger. This oscillatory motionof the plunger permits uniform checking action all the way to the closedpoint. The shifting plunger cam permits a double acting check to be usedas a single acting check without regard to the opening direction of thesingle acting door. The checking plunger is pushed to one side or theother so the roller 42 does not come to rest on the apex of cam surface8. A wear-resisting insert 5| is located at the apex of cam surface 48.

The desired dash-pot action of the checking plunger is, as usual,controlled by an oil flow regulating valve 52. The return flow of oil ispermitted by check valve 53. The checking plunger is shifted downwardlythe maximum near the ends or the opening and closing movements of thedoor, as the cam surface 58 of the checking plunger has high points 5dand 55 corresponding with these positions of the door.

In the operation of the construction, the two forms illustrated areabout the same in principle, as each places the door-closing springunder tension upon an opening movement of the door and at the same timepermits the checking plunger to move axially under the action of itsshifting spring to be at its maximum non-checking position when the dooris midway between its full closed and open positions. The door ischecked as it moves toward these positions by an opposite axial thrustof the checking plunger against oil resistance efiected by a roller orcam element rotating with the door spindle. The checking plunger in eachcase has a cooperating cam surface through which it receives thenecessary axial thrust in one direction, and the plunger in both casesis so mounted as to rotate slightly on its axis whereby the apex of thecam surface does not come into a dead center position when the door isfull closed. Thus, the cooperating cam surfaces both being under springpressure are serviceable for producing a checking and cushioning effectat the end of the stroke of the rdoor, regardless of whether the doorhas two way or one way opening movements.

I claim:

1. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way ortwo-way action, comprising a supporting structure having mounted thereina spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil springsurrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindlefor tensioning the spring in either direction of rotation of thespindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, achecking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil res stance insaid supporting structure, a spring for actuating said checking plungerin one direction, a cam surface on said checking plunger, and acooperating actuating element for the checking plunger carried by thespindle.

2. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way ortwo-way action comprising a supporting structure having mounted thereina spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil springsurrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindlefor tensioning the spring in either direction of rotation of thespindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, achecking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil resistance insaid supporting structure, a spring for actuating said checking plungerin one direction, a cam surface on said checking plunger, and acooperating actuating element for the checking plunger carried by thespindle, said plunger actuating element being mounted on said spindlefor limited oscillatory motion.

3. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way ortwo-way action, compris ing a supporting structure having mountedtherein a spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil springsurrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindlefor tensioning the spring in either direction of rotation of thespindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, achecking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil resistance insaid supporting structure, a spring for actuating said checking plungerin one direction, a cam surface on said checking plunger, a cooperatingactuating element for the checking plunger carried by the spindle andsaid checking plunger being keyed to the supporting structure forlimited oscillatory motion.

4. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way ortwo-way action, comprising a supporting structure having mounted thereina spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil springsurrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindlefor ten sioning the spring in either direction of rotation of thespindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, achecking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil resistance insaid supporting structure, a spring for actuating said checking plungerin one direction, a

cam surface on said checking plunger, a cooperating actuating elementfor the checking plunger carried by the spindle, and a spline connectionbetween the plunger and the supporting structure.

5. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way ortwo-way action, comprising a supporting structure having mounted thereina spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil springsurrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindlefor tensioning the spring in either direction of rotation of thespindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, achecking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil resistance insaid supporting structure, a spring for actuating. said checking plungerin one direction, a cam surface on said checking plunger, a cooperatingactuating element for the checking plunger carried by the spindle, and amounting for said checking plunger in said supporting structure wherebythe plunger is permitted a limited rotary motion as well asreciprocation under the action of said spindle cam and its restoringspring.

6. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way andtwo-way action, comprising a supporting structure having mounted thereina spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a pair of springholders loosely journaled on said spindle, a spring surrounding thespindle and connecting said holders, a shoulder on each of said holdersand a cooperating shoulder engaging element carried by the spindlewhereby one of the spring holders will be engaged on either direction ofrotation of the spindle, coacting abutment means between said springholders and the supporting structure for preventing rotation of oneholder in one direction and the other holder in the other direction, acam carried by the spindle, a checking plunger mounted in the supportingstructure for actuation by and a spring engaging the plunger for theaction of said cam.

FORREST C. GARRISON.

said cam, opposing

